A massive landslide at Khalanga, the district headquarters of Jajarkot, has destroyed a 200 metre road, leaving around two dozen houses in peril of damage.

The mudslide, triggered by heavy rains, started at the New Road area in Bheri Municipality-3 on Friday night. It cut through land 700 metres below. The houses on another side of the road are at high risk.

After the road collapsed, vehicular movement came to a halt on the Khalanga-Rimna section of the Jajarkot-Dolpa road. Transmission line poles being erected were also swept away.

Local residents have been terrorised as the landslide could resume if it rains again, said Bhadra Bahadur Oli, a local trader. He blamed the absence of a proper drainage system and a substandard retention wall for the disaster.

Local people said the Division Road Office, Chaurjahari had failed to carry out quality works while upgrading the road section.

“We drew the attention of the local administration and stakeholders about the poor quality of road upgradation works. But they paid no heed,” said Amar Singh Rathour, a local.

Mayor of Bheri Municipality CP Gharti has demanded action to control the landslide immediately. “There will be huge casualties otherwise,” he warned. Gharti said the local administration lacks the resources and know-how to rebuild the road by fortifying the slope. He estimated that the reconstruction would cost more than Rs50 million.